Chapter 60 – The Cardinal from Astanya
“…”
Huh?
No matter how long she waited, he didn’t come closer.
Belladonna, confused, slowly opened her eyes.
Right in front of her was Escallion, looking awkward.
She blinked, and his face turned calm.
“Go down slowly. Don’t slip again. Don’t take off your coat.”
At that moment, Belladonna’s face turned bright red.
Ah, how embarrassing…!
Escallion wasn’t thinking anything, but she’d remembered the past and shamelessly closed her eyes all on her own.
He hadn’t expected anything, but she had gotten ahead of herself, and now she was mortified.
Sorry!! She covered her red face and hurriedly got off him.
Freed from her, Escallion quickly stood up and brushed dirt and dust off his clothes.
…I’m such a fool…
Belladonna stood up, feeling a deep sense of self-embarrassment.
And with it, a wave of sadness washed over her.
Can we… ever go back to the way things were?
And why is it so cold today?
“Sniff.”
She sniffled, embarrassed. Suddenly, Escallion, standing behind her, grabbed her shoulders and turned her around.
Her view spun, and his surprised face appeared right in front of her.
He was looking at her seriously, watching her closely.
“Are you crying?”
“…?”
No…? Belladonna shook her head, twisting away from his hands.
It was embarrassing enough already—she wasn’t crying!
Escallion looked down at her, thinking she seemed braver than expected.
“I have no idea what you’re thinking.”
“I thought you… felt the same as me. Or at least something similar. I know it’s strange and hard, but I hoped life here in Griblata with me wasn’t all bad…”
He let out a sigh and turned his head. Belladonna stepped closer to him.
He was right. I—
But as she moved closer, Escallion stepped back just as much.
“Don’t come any closer. I don’t want to misunderstand anymore.”
With those brief words, he turned and left the stable before Belladonna could say anything.
Left alone, Belladonna lowered her head.
The only sounds left in the quiet stable were the horses snorting.
“Madam! Where have you been?”
She trudged back inside the castle, and Cindy hurried over.
“Oh, you must have been really cold. Your cheeks are so red… Huh? What happened to your clothes? Did you fall or something?”
Belladonna awkwardly touched her coat and nodded.
Looking concerned, Cindy led her away.
“Let’s get you up to your room! Wash up and change into new clothes!”
Belladonna nodded.
As they climbed the stairs to the second floor, Cindy pointed toward the parlor off the lobby.
“Madam, you’ll need to come back down soon. Some guests from Astanya arrived—a cardinal and his attendant priests.”
A cardinal? From Astanya…?
Belladonna stopped on the stairs.
She turned to look toward the parlor.
“They visited without warning, so we were surprised! You didn’t know they were coming, did you?”
Belladonna’s heart began to race.
The Pope had already sent a letter, trying to break up her and Escallion. And now he’d sent people, too?
Belladonna grabbed Cindy’s sleeve and pointed toward the parlor, tilting her head.
“Oh, you mean who is it? He’s quite young, long-haired, with a gentle smile… What was his name? Ni, Nicholas… Oh! Cardinal Nicholas!”
Nicholas…
Belladonna bit her lower lip, now certain of the priest’s identity.
Nicholas Castel.
The Pope’s right hand, holding real power alongside him.
He sent him…
As the Saint in Astanya, Nicholas was the only one she spoke with often besides the Pope himself. He was always the Pope’s shadow and loyal subordinate.
If the Pope sent him directly to Griblata, it meant he was desperate to know how things stood between Belladonna and Escallion—and wanted to see if he could bring her back right away.
“It’s Madam.”
Wolf knocked lightly and announced her at the parlor door.
After waiting for Escallion’s permission, Wolf turned the handle.
Belladonna tried her best to keep a neutral expression and stepped inside.
“Saint Belladonna!”
Nicholas stood up from the table and hurried over, spreading his arms wide with a bright smile.
“It’s been nearly three months since the wedding, but it feels even longer! I’m glad you look well.”
What is this…? Is he… trying to hug me?
Belladonna glanced at Escallion, who was seated across the table, then awkwardly let Nicholas hug her.
Nicholas gently hugged her and leaned in close.
They’d never been this close before… Why was he pretending now?
Then, with his face near her ear, Nicholas whispered so only Belladonna could hear:
“Smile. Where’s that doll-like smile? Why are you making such a human face?”
“…!”
Belladonna stiffened in shock.
Hearing his voice, she suddenly felt like she was back in Astanya—silent, always smiling like a puppet for the Pope and his people.
Nicholas softly stroked her tense shoulders and stepped back.
“The Pope himself wanted to come, but he couldn’t leave the Holy See.”
“But it’s an honor for me to come and escort you personally, Saint Belladonna.”
Escort me…?
Belladonna’s eyes grew wide as she quickly looked to Escallion.
Did the Pope already act—and did Escallion agree? Even to the divorce?
Leaning back on the sofa, Escallion spoke lazily.
“If someone overheard, they’d think the Cardinal was stealing my wife. But you only need the Saint for the Emperor’s birthday festival.”
The Emperor’s birthday…
She remembered—it was the time of year when the Emperor’s birthday was celebrated in Ellinus. It was one of the most important events in the empire, with festivals all week in the capital and the Saint usually healing the sick and spreading compassion in Astanya.
So that’s why the Pope set our marriage term at three months.
He planned to bring Belladonna back before the festival so she could act as the Saint again.
“Stealing her away? Oh, Lord, don’t say that…”
Nicholas laughed cheerfully and smiled at Belladonna.
“How could we not have the Saint—the pride of the Holy See—at such a festival? The people already miss you after your marriage. Now is the perfect time to show you still hold your place.”
With that gentle voice, Nicholas looked at Escallion.
“Lord, may I ask again? There’s still plenty of time before the festival, but is it alright if we take the Saint early? The Pope would like time to catch up with her.”
Escallion’s golden eyes went back and forth between Nicholas and Belladonna.
Belladonna nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
No… No!
If she left for Astanya now, she might never return to Griblata.
The Pope would hold her hostage and drag out the separation, and Escallion—already cold—might agree to the divorce.
I really don’t want that…
Escallion, watching her quietly, shifted in his seat and spoke.
“Why do you need my permission to take Bella? More than anything, her opinion matters most.”
At his words, Nicholas’s gaze focused on Belladonna.
Feeling his eyes on her, Belladonna reflexively forced a small smile.
“Saint Belladonna, what do you say? If you return to Astanya with me, you can help your father with the preparations.”
“…”
“Oh, I forgot—the Saint always answers with a beautiful smile.”
Nicholas grinned as he looked at her silence.
“Such a gentle smile. I’ll take that as agreement and begin preparations.”
No, that’s not it…!
Even if she went to Astanya, she couldn’t use her powers as the Saint anymore.
Belladonna shook her head quickly in protest.
Nicholas noticed, but pretended not to see. He turned away and went to Escallion.
“Thank you for your understanding, my lord. Then, as soon as the sun rises tomorrow, we’ll depart…”
“You came all this way—there’s no need to rush.”
Suddenly, Escallion spoke up from his chair.
“Pardon?”
“It seems you’re in a hurry.”
“But you know, the festival is approaching…”
“The Holy See may be working hard, but there’s still more than two weeks left, isn’t there?”
“That’s true, but…”
Escallion turned his golden eyes on Belladonna.
“It’s not often we get guests from my wife’s home. If you left so soon, I’d be disappointed.”
“…”
“You should be properly hosted as our guest before you leave.”
